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I am forgot my Windows 10 password, so how to recover that.

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Thread summary and practical next steps (data-first, legal access only). is correct to flag ownership concerns; attempts to bypass an account without permission can be unlawful. and have named several common approaches; the guidance below focuses on safe, low‑risk actions that preserve user data and explain a reliable free tool that is often overlooked.

Prioritize file backup before any reset. A bootable live USB (for example, an Ubuntu desktop image written with Rufus or balenaEtcher) lets the drive be mounted read/write so user folders can be copied to an external disk:

  • Create a live USB from an official ISO () and boot the affected PC into the live session.
  • Mount the Windows partition and copy C:\Users\<profile> (Documents, Desktop, Downloads, Pictures, and browser profiles) to external media.
  • Note: encrypted volumes cannot be accessed without the recovery key; do not proceed if the disk prompts for a BitLocker key.

A commonly used free recovery tool is the Offline NT Password & Registry Editor (chntpw). Its ISO boots independently and can clear or blank local account passwords by editing the SAM hive. High‑level points: download from the project page (Offline NT Password & Registry Editor), boot its ISO, point it at the Windows installation, select the target user and clear the password. Crucial cautions: this only affects local accounts (not Microsoft online logins), can make EFS‑encrypted files inaccessible, and will not work on BitLocker‑encrypted drives. Always back up data first.

If backups are successful but access cannot be restored, a clean reinstall or a factory recovery (with proof of ownership) is the last reliable option. Avoid paying untrusted services that promise password recovery. After regaining access, register recovery options and securely store any disk‑encryption recovery keys to prevent repeat lockouts.

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Member Avatar for Reverend Jim

And how are we to know whether you forgot your password or you just want to break into someone else's computer?

Member Avatar for rproffitt

Windows 10 has TWO login methods.

  1. Email system using Microsoft's own servers.
  2. Local login.

Of these two NEITHER offer password recovery and if anyone is selling recovery (especially on item 1) then they are a fraud and scamming you.
The second or local login is, most of the time easy to reset. Now if the owner used BITLOCKER or whole disk encryption then you have to wipe the disk and do a clean install. Shame really as there should never be any data loss since anyone that does that should know to backup what they can't lose.

So with that out of the way I use the UTILMAN.EXE method noted at https://www.howtogeek.com/222262/how-to-reset-your-forgotten-password-in-windows-10/

As to recovering the old password, no one has shown me a working method. I've read and tried too many articles so for now, for today and local logins I use the UTILMAN.EXE method. If that fails (it hasn't) then we just wipe the drive and install the OS they want to run.

Member Avatar for mreza

To recover your forgotten Windows 10 password you can follow any one of the following method:
1: Use Windows 10 Password Reset Disk
2: Reset Windows 10 Microsoft Account Online
3: Bypass Windows 10 Password with Windows Password Key(Recommend)
4: Reinstall Your Windows 10 and Access your PC without Password
5: Guess Your Password
6: Have Administrator Changed Your Forgotten Windows 10 Password

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